Signed a partially guaranteed $31,720,817 contract for the remainder of the season and through 2016 with Denver,

11th July, 2015

NBA

Signed a four year, $34,259,903 extension with Denver. Concurrently re-negotiated 2015/16 salary upwards by $3,691,525 and 2016/17 salary upwards by $4,061,484, which are included in the $34,259,903 figure.

One of the better two-way players on the team, who came back from missing a season due to injury to play better than he had done in the two years before he went away. A luxury and a quality player, who shoots a bit, drives a bit, takes on the glass, can float between three positions, adds another stretch four option when needs be, and steps up on offence when required. There is nothing remarkable yet there need not be. A glue guy who will surely have value to contending teams, at a good price with two years left on his contract (albeit one via a player option).

Player Plan: Two years with a combined circa. $24.8 million remaining, including a player option for 2018/19. Has been a valuable role player, will continue to be a valuable role player, and yet could be traded as a valuable role player, because everyone needs valuable role players.

It won't look like it in hindsight, but there was a time when there was absolutely no way that the Knicks were going to trade both Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari for Carmelo, let alone also get them under the luxury tax and give out every possible future young asset not called Landry Fields in the process. But then an NBA team yielded to the input of the head coach of a Sun Belt Conference team. It's not who you are in this business; it's who you were.

However, those savings won't last forever. New York's decision not to sign Chandler to an extension this past offseason not only inadvertently facilitated the trade - had Wilson signed one, his Poison Pill Provision would have significantly complicated the salary ramifications - but it has also created something of a welcome problem for Denver. While they have cut costs and accumulated young talent, it won't be long before Chandler needs a new contract, as will starting guard Arron Afflalo, another key piece moving forward who unfortunately won't be a bargain for much longer.

In the midst of his breakout season, a re-signed Wilson Chandler will not come cheaply, and the retention of both he and Afflalo will end any cap space aspirations that the Nuggets may otherwise have had. With Kenyon Martin's seven year deal finally expiring this summer, and with Nene potentially opting out of his final season, Denver currently stands to have only $30,047,610 in committed salary, split between the incoming Felton, Mozgov, Koufos and Gallinari, and the incumbent Al Harrington, Chris Andersen and Ty Lawson. However, retaining Afflalo and Chandler will not be cheap; the pair's cap holds will combine for $12,270,177 alone, before a single dollar has even be committed. That's how it stands to be under this CBA, at least.